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Dangerous rat poison still on shelves

Back in 2008, EPA declared that certain pesticide products designed to kill rats pose an “unreasonable risk” to children, pets and wildlife. Agency officials recommended these products be pulled from the market immediately. So they should have disappeared from store shelves long ago, right?

Wrong. Sadly, the national law governing pesticides (including rat poisons) is so old, weak and cumbersome that EPA chose to politely ask companies manufacturing these products to recall them, rather than set in motion an official ban. Some companies complied, but others did not. And today, children across the country are still at risk.

Each year, thousands of young children accidentally ingest bait pellets intended for rats and mice. From 1993 to 2008 the American Association of Poison Control Centers received between 12,000 and 15,000 reports of rat and mouse poison exposures each year involving children under six years of age.

Citizens & cities take action

EPA is now proceeding with the lengthy process through the antiquated Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to ban home use of some of the worst rodenticides. But this could take years.

PAN is collecting signatures from concerned parents and community members across the country on a letter to the non-compliant companies, demanding that they pull the dangerous products from the market. Now.

And cities across the country, including San Francisco, Boulder, Santa Monica and others, are targeting retailers in their jurisdiction, asking them to stop carrying these dangerous products.

Sign PAN's letter >> Help us tell pesticide companies they must do the right thing. Rat poisons known to put children at "unreasonable risk" should be immediately pulled off the shelf.